tau4 lou4頭顱头颅
Jyutpingtau4 lou4
Yaletàuh lòuh
Definition
A person's head or skull.
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
Although 头颅 is a standard word for skull, it sounds quite clinical or even slightly literary in daily Cantonese. Most people prefer using the more general term 頭 to refer to the head or the skull area in everyday conversation. Use this word only when you need to be precise about the bone structure or in a medical context.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He hit his skull and needs to go to the hospital for a check-up immediately.
What is inside your head?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this word to mean head in general, but it specifically refers to the bony structure. Using it to describe a headache or a haircut will sound very unnatural or overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
